title: Multicentre randomized controlled trial of structured transition on diabetes care management compared to standard diabetes care in adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes (Transition Trial).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transition from pediatric to adult diabetes care is a high risk period during which there is an increased rate of disengagement from care. Suboptimal transition has been associated with higher risks for acute and chronic diabetes-related complications. The period of emerging adulthood challenges current systems of healthcare delivery as many young adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) default from diabetes care and are at risk for diabetes complications which are undetected and therefore untreated. Despite the importance of minimizing loss to follow-up there are no randomized control trials evaluating models of transition from pediatric to adult diabetes care.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a multicentre randomized controlled trial. A minimum of 188 subjects with T1D aged between 17 and 20 years will be evaluated. Eligible subjects will be recruited from three pediatric care centres and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to a structured transition program that will span 18 months or to receive standard diabetes care. The structured transition program is a multidisciplinary, complex intervention aiming to provide additional support in the transition period. A Transition Coordinator will provide transition support and will provide the link between pediatric and adult diabetes care. The Transition Coordinator is central to the intervention to facilitate ongoing contact with the medical system as well as education and clinical support where appropriate. Subjects will be seen in the pediatric care setting for 6 months and will then be transferred to the adult care setting where they will be seen for one year. There will then be a one-year follow-up period for outcome assessment. The primary outcome is the proportion of subjects who fail to attend at least one outpatient adult diabetes specialist visit during the second year after transition to adult diabetes care. Secondary outcome measures include A1C frequency measurement and levels, diabetes related emergency room visits and hospital admissions, frequency of complication screening, and subject perception and satisfaction with care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This trial will determine if the support of a Transition Coordinator improves health outcomes for this at-risk population of young adults.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT01351857.
authors.affiliation: St, Joseph's Health Care, London, ON, Canada. tamara.spaic@sjhc.london.on.ca.
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Spaic
authors.forename: Jeff L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Mahon
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hramiak
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Byers
authors.forename: Keira
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Margaret L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Malcolm
authors.forename: Ellen B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Goldbloom
authors.forename: Cheril L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Clarson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000628:therapy*; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059012:Lost to Follow-Up; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D060305:Transition to Adult Care / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult